By Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editorOffice of Public and Employee Communications

After a long day at work at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP), RN Kimberly Houtz got in her car and began driving home on Highway 101, much like any other day. Ahead of her, a semi-truck turned in front of on-coming traffic, causing her to swerve onto the shoulder. Another car slammed into one of the semi-truck trailers, becoming trapped underneath. What she didn’t know at the time, was the driver of that trapped vehicle was a fellow coworker.

“I saw a semi turn across in a small break of traffic in front of me. I instantly drove off the left lane onto the shoulder. The car in front of me locked up their brakes instantly and started to swerve off on the shoulder, but it appeared the trailer of the semi was going to be over enough for him to miss it. It was then his car started to straighten up with brakes still locked up. Instantly I saw a second trailer come into view. It was like a very slow movie that I had already watched and knew what was going to happen next. I believe I was screaming ‘oh my god’ in my truck before the car even made contact with the semi. The car with the brakes still locked up slid right under the second trailer and I barely missed the back end of the trailer as it continued to turn into the farm on the right hand side of the road,” RN Houtz recalls.

The crash looked so bad, she assumed the driver would be dead but if there were small children in the back seat, they may have survived. That’s when her training kicked in.

“Once I got my truck stopped, I grabbed my stethoscope off the passenger seat, threw the truck in park and ran as fast as I could to the crash. I tried to look into the car from the front, side and back but there was too much smoke and metal all smashed that I quickly realized I was going to have to crawl under the semi to get any view. The entire car was under the semi. Cars were moving around the semi in the fast lane when I stopped two and asked them to stay put to keep traffic stopped so I could go under. I saw a car on the right hand side of the road with a girl crying on the phone. I asked her if she was calling 911 and she said yes. I ran back to the semi and started to climb under,” she said. “There was smoke everywhere, liquid dripping down from the containers on the trailers and metal bent and lying everywhere. The door on the passenger side appeared to be mostly ripped off. I climbed upward into the passenger seat of the car as much as I could get when I found two hands. Instinctively, I grabbed them and felt for a radial pulse. There was one. I was so relieved and began screaming, ‘My name is Kim and I am a nurse. You are alive so relax and don’t worry. I am here with you and we will get you out. I am not leaving you.'”

She tried to get a better view of the trapped person and started moving metal out of the way.

“I grabbed a piece of bent metal and it must have once been the glove box because it was then that a stack of pay stubs fell out directly on the ground in front of me. Gray in color with STATE OF CALIFORNIA written across it over and over and my heart sank,” she said.

Realizing she probably knew the accident victim, she hesitated to open a pay stub to find the name.

“It felt like 10 minutes but I know it was only a few split seconds before I was able to bring myself to open the checks to see what name would appear in front of me. I opened the check, saw the name (Humberto Ayala) and just began screaming, ‘Ayala, I am here. It is Kim from work and I am here. Hang on. I am going to stay with you and get you out. Don’t try to talk or move. Just stay relaxed.’ It was then I felt three small squeezes on my hand. I told him I was letting go for one second so I could go get more help but I would be right back. When I climbed out, I saw people starting to circle the accident with phones out recording. I yelled for someone to help me, but not one person was willing,” she recalls. “I went back under the truck and grabbed Ayala’s hand and there was still a pulse. It felt like (longer) but I later learned it was about eight minutes when a firefighter arrived and climbed under with me. I told him he was still alive. He said, ‘We have to get out because they are going to lift the semi and pull the car out.'”

Emerging from under the trailer, she saw people circling the accident, phones in hand, recording the scene.

“I was so shocked. I remember hearing someone yell to the crowd to stop recording and back away. The tow truck was hooked to the semi and the back of Ayala’s car to the fire truck. When the semi was lifted, the firetruck backed the car up. I was immediately at the driver’s seat of what was now a convertible,” she said.

The impact of the accident sheered off the top of the car and knocked the driver’s seat back flat.

“I felt Ayala’s carotid artery and there was no pulse. I reached over and undid the seat belt (and) quickly began to rip buttons off the shirt and open the shirt up to look for any bleeding. When the shirt was opened, I noticed Ayala still had his vest on. I had a small bit of relief with this thinking just maybe the vest took a large amount of the impact and would be enough to save his life. I took the front part of his vest off while the fire department prepared the Jaws of Life to cut him out. I wanted him ready for CPR immediately. A firefighter came over and was ready to cut him out. Once he was out, CPR immediately began and continued until he was taken away by ambulance,” she said.

According to the fire department, they believed RN Houtz “had command of the scene and therefore followed her lead and crawled underneath the trailer to assist.”

Unfortunately, Officer Ayala succumbed to his injuries the same day as the accident, Oct. 17, 2018.

“While trying to save his life, all I could think of was getting him out. I knew I could not do anything while he was trapped but I wanted him out as fast as possible so we could do everything possible. When he passed away, I was sad that I was not able to save him. I felt so guilty for not being able to succeed especially since I am a nurse and my job is to save people. I was defeated,” she said. “This experience taught me just how quick our lives can change. I was almost in the accident myself and I know had he not been driving in front of me, it totally could have been me under that truck. I think being a nurse, I have a good grasp on how fast death can happen, but this really put it into perspective more.”

46 Comments

Maj
on Friday, April 5, 2019 at 11:10 am

Thank you for being there and staying there with your fellow coworker.
God must have put there for a reason.
I am sure his family has found comfort in knowing that he was not alone, in this tragic accident.
Great job!

Cherish every minute, because life is short, and as many miles as we put in during the drives, along with hours in a work day.
Anything can happen.
God bless you and the Ayala family.

There are some awful intersections on 101 that really need a traffic light. This tragic accident proves this. I have driven professionally in some of the toughest parts of the USA. It should not take the loss of life to get a traffic light or to screen truck drivers who should not be behind the wheel.

Thank you for sharing this story, I was in tears reading it. I didn’t know officer Ayala But i’m sure he’s in a better place. We forget how precious life is and how quickly it could change, my heart hurts for his children…you are trully blessed to have the ability to save lifes thank you for doing all you could for him. God bless you

Kim, GOD placed you at that location for a very specific reason. Your training and expert analysis is very sharp! “Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” Regardless of the outcome, from me to you; Kim you are here on Earth to serve a higher purpose! GOD Bless you!, and do not take guilt over this situation, as it is the Lords Will, not ours. We can only do the best that we can, and you did!
To the Ayala’s, my condolences, may you find peace and serenity during this process. M. Quezda, NKSP.

You are a “True Hero”…Knowing Officer Ayala had you there with him brings a sense of relief that he was not alone. Never blame yourself. You did what you could. Thank you for your service and God Bless…Rest Easy Officer Ayala, we have the Watch from here.

Such a tragic story, but I am grateful that you were there to do what you could to save Officer Ayala and I am especially grateful for you being there with him so he didn’t feel alone. My condolences to Officer Ayala’s family and friends.

Kudos to you Kim; a fellow correctional facility nurse. Being there for one of our own is a blessing. CO Ayala and you knew each other and that alone I’m sure brought him great comfort. You did all you could and went above and beyond to help. Thank you for taking care of one of our brothers in green.

RN Houtz, you were nearly in the accident yourself. Some people would be so shaken up that they would be sitting there nervous and scared. You didn’t do that; you jumped into action. Some people would see the severity of the wreck and feel helpless, paralyzed in fear of possible danger or what they might view. You didn’t do that; you analyzed the scene and took charge. Some people would be so frustrated and angry at those who stood by recording instead of helping that they might have let that distract them from doing what they could to help. You didn’t do that; you did what a true hero does and focused first and foremost on Officer Ayala, the person who needed your help. Those three hand squeezes seem to me an acknowledgment of appreciation for your efforts and for not being left alone – he had someone by his side who demonstrated compassion, bravery, caring, dedication, selflessness, and who risked her own safety to try her very best to give him a chance he wouldn’t have had if you had not been on the scene. I have no doubt your actions did a lot to bring peace to his family because their loved one was treated with care and mercy before he left this world. God worked through you to bless Officer Ayala during some of his final moments on this Earth. It was just his time and the role you played was exactly the role you were meant to play. Those who stood by and didn’t help deserve to feel guilt and shame for their inaction. You have nothing for which you need to feel ashamed or guilty. Thank you for treating our fellow CDCR employee and more importantly, our fellow human being with such dignity and kindness even in the face of tragedy. May God bless your heart with peace.

Kim,thank God you were there to hold Ayala’s hand before he passed into the next life. Reading this story made me cry. I am a psychologist at SVSP but I am also a Registered Nurse and as a nurse, I have held the hand of so many dying patients. Not only did you have the courage to intervene and come to the aid of C.O Ayala, but you do the same in D yard and I have always really appreciated it. What does it say about our society that people were not willing to help you at the accident scene?

This was by far one of the most difficult above the call articles to read. Thank you Kim for your efforts and willingness to put yourself in harms way to attempt to save the life of another person. Although there was nothing else you could have done to save the life of Officer Ayala, your actions ensured he did not die alone. Much love and respect to you for stepping up. This will weigh heavy on your heart, do not be afraid to seek help from PSP or EAP or any other means available to you. You know, you did all you could, but that wont stop your mind or emotions, so please take care of yourself. Thank you.

That stretch of the 101 is particularly dangerous. I remember many accidents on that HWY when I worked in SVSP. Rn Houtz, you truly are a hero just for stopping to help Officer Ayala in any way. you could have stayed in the car, or recorded with your phone, but real heroes act!

In my heart I know Officer Ayala was thankful that you were there to assist and comfort him. A tragic end, but your willingness to step above and beyond demonstrates that you are the best in your field. Clearly your heart is in the right place. You deserve special recognition and you have my vote. May God always give you the strength to do what you do every day and keep you safe.

Thank you Kimberly for your Heroics, but I am saddened that NO one would get under there and help you…….. So dang worried about getting a pic… sickening…. Thank you again and I pray if any of my family is ever hurt that someone like you is there. GOD BLESS YOU

It takes a special person to choose Nursing as a career. It takes Dedication, Courage, and Compassion. Your effort was not in vain… Thank you Ms. Kim for your Bravery, and Prayers for the Ayala Family , and Friends.

Nurse Houtz – I believe God put you there to be Officer Ayala’s personal Angel of Mercy to assist and comfort in his time of greatest need. It has been my personal experience that nurses such as yourself not only help treat the most horrific injuries to the body, but by their caring nature, help strengthen the spirit and soul, no matter the outcome. The courage you demonstrated on that fateful day is a testament to your commitment to your profession and your CCHCS “family” at SVSP. I am proud of the work all our CCHCS staff do on a daily basis and am especially grateful you were there for Office Ayala and his family. Thank you.

I too understand the feeling of “not enough”.
“What if I would have done more”.
Those are the calls we make to save lives. We step out of the gray area and make the call and live with it.
You Did Not leave him and he knows that. You stepped forward out of the crowd of watchers and tried your best while being exposed to god knows what.
Be sad of his death young lady but be happy that you tried. You can go to sleep and rest peacefully. You stayed with him in his last light here on earth.

Just so upsetting that no one would try and help. It is all about cell phones and recording on them when people could just drop them and get on with helping others out. Good work for you. He probably was comforted by your words during his last few hours of living.

Kimberly- You are such a hero in every sense of the word. It is so good to know that we work with people such as yourself that will go above and beyond to help another human being in such an horrific even as this. Although it is sad to know he did not survive, I’m sure his family is glad he had you there to help him. Thank You.

WOW, so brave, I am not sure I could have done what you did. hopefully, after reading what you did, I will have the courage to be able. you are a HERO, great job, it is sad people would rather record that help. thank goodness it didn’t catch on fire. prayers for you.

Ms. Houtz, I am sorry for your loss of a co-worker and friend and I thank you for your service to others. Please realize the comfort you provided in those moments and be proud that you were chosen to escort Officer Ayala from this world to the next. God bless you.

A heroic effort. Thank you. Fortunately, you have not succumbed to the disgusting habit of prioritizing recording with a phone rather than taking action. It is sad so much of humanity has fallen to that voyeuristic selfish mindset. You are a model for us all to follow.

RN Houtz, thank you for being there for Ayala in his last moments. I found out about his accident that night. I was sitting next to him in block training that week and when I did not see him in class the next day I finally accepted that it was true and I cried. God bless you for being the caring nurse that you are. Please don’t let anything change that about you.

I have been on a small town Fire Recuse for 26 Years.
It’s never easy to do what you did on you own and off the cuff.
I am disappointed no one else would help, yet you hung in there.
You are a hero. Great story.
I am heart broken for the loss.